Introduction:

In the dynamic world of agricultural distribution, packaging efficiency and freshness are paramount. ABC Company, a prominent name in Germany’s agricultural sector, has been known for its high-quality vegetable distribution, particularly its rocket salad to various supermarkets. To enhance their operations, ABC Company collaborated with Smartweighpack to implement a state-of-the-art salad packaging solution.

 

Challenges:

ABC Company’s reputation for delivering fresh, top-tier produce requires stringent maintenance of quality and freshness. Historically reliant on manual labor, their operations involved sorting and filling trays with a variety of vegetables. With twelve workers managing the process, the production was capped at about 20 trays per minute—a method that was becoming unsustainable due to the physical strain and potential for human error affecting product consistency.

 

Operational Needs:

The manual process was labor-intensive and time-consuming, leaning heavily on the precision and speed of the workers. To continue upholding their standards and to reduce reliance on manual labor, ABC Company sought an automated solution that could enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain the quality of their packed vegetables.

 

Smartweigh’s Solution:

Smartweighpack proposed a cutting-edge salad packaging machine equipped with a tray denesting machine, designed to automate the packing process. The installation included several key features:

 

• Auto-Feeding: Rocket salad was automatically fed into a multihead weigher, ensuring precise measurement for each pack.
• Tray Handling: An automated system for picking and placing empty trays improved the setup’s efficiency.
• Weighing and Filling: The equipment featured automated weighing and filling of trays, enhancing speed and reducing manual labor requirements.
• Conveyor Integration: A conveyor system was installed to seamlessly move the filled trays to subsequent processing stages.

 

Implementation and Results:

After a production and testing phase of 40 days, followed by 40 days for shipping, the new system was installed at ABC Company’s facility. The results were transformative:

 

Reduced Labor: The team was reduced from 12 to 3, maintaining an improved output of 22 trays per minute.

Cost Savings: With labor costs significantly reduced (savings of approximately €7,200 weekly), the investment in the new machine paid for itself within months, prompting the CEO to highlight the “huge ROI” achieved.

Scalability: The new system not only streamlined operations for rocket salad but also had the capacity to handle a variety of other salad types, offering potential for future expansion.

 

Conclusion:

The collaboration between ABC Company and Smartweighpack illustrates the profound impact of integrating advanced packaging technologies in the agricultural sector. The successful implementation of the rocket salad packaging machine not only optimized operational efficiencies but also supported ABC Company’s growth and sustainability objectives.

 

At Smartweighpack, we continue to innovate, offering a range of packaging solutions for various fruits and vegetables, ensuring our clients can meet their production needs with precision and reliability. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our comprehensive support and customization options, making us a trusted partner in the industry.